THUMBS UP Voters cast their ballots for the RCSD budget and new board members in the old gym at Rockland Central School’s Livingston Manor campus. Manor Ink photo
‘Challenging’ RCSD budget passed by voters
District also elects 3 BOE members
Town of Rockland, NY – On Tuesday, May 19, residents of the Rockland Central School District approved the district’s almost $34 million budget for the 2026-27 school year, with 431 yes votes and 310 no votes.
“We know this budget year was challenging,” Interim Superintendent Keith Lewis said. “We appreciate the voters’ support of this budget.”
“We know this budget year was challenging. We appreciate the voters’ support of this budget.”
The $33,974,076 budget increases spending $1,839,096, or 5.72 percent, while keeping the tax levy increase at the tax levy limit of 4.48 percent.
Aligning with the district’s strategic plan’s focus on student success, the budget maintains programs, including middle and high school electives in which students are showing a growing interest, such as broadcasting and wellness, while adding an elementary STEM enrichment program.
To combat rising expenses, many of which are out of the district’s control, the budget reduced equipment purchases, created efficiencies in the after school and summer programs, reduced general support to the school lunch fund, based on cost savings, and did not fund seven staff positions, some of which were vacant in the current year budget.
Board of Education election results
In addition to the budget vote, three Board of Education members were elected to the board, filling seats vacated by term expirations and one resignation.
The two top vote-getters, Melissa Hess with 363 votes, and Jill Smith with 351 votes, will each serve three-year terms. The third top vote-getter, Alys Mann with 255 votes, will serve a two-year-plus term, effective immediately, due to the vacancy created by resignation of James Buck on July 3. Incumbent member Tom Ward was appointed to fill the seat until the next election.
Also on the ballot, with their vote totals, were Chris Tuelweit, with 143 votes; Amy LeRoy, with 144 votes; Ashley Hoag-Irwin with 238 votes; incumbent member Nicole Park, with 146; Tom Ward, with 251 votes; and Kim Sheldon with 243 votes.
There were also two write-in votes.